Spain vs Belgium Prediction, Odds & Tips
The tournament favourites against a golden generation on one last ride. Spain have not conceded a single goal all World Cup; Belgium have De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois for a final crack at glory. Here is our full preview, odds comparison, prediction, anytime scorer picks and bet builder ideas for Match 98.
Best World Cup Betting Offers UK
12 Offers
Spain vs Belgium Match Overview
Grab the popcorn. The best defence anyone has seen at this World Cup against a golden generation refusing to go quietly. Spain against Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium is the standout quarter-final, the tournament favourites facing a De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois team on what looks like their last big ride together. Win and you are ninety minutes from the final. Lose and it is over.
Spain have been the team of the tournament. Luis de la Fuente’s side, world champions in 2010 and European champions in 2024, won Group H without conceding a goal, drawing 0–0 with Cape Verde, hammering Saudi Arabia 4–0 and edging Uruguay 1–0. They then beat Austria 3–0 in the Round of 32, Mikel Oyarzabal grabbing a brace, before that titanic Round of 16 win over Portugal. Substitute Mikel Merino settled it 1–0 with a stoppage-time strike in the 90th+1 minute, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup. Five games, five clean sheets, not a single goal conceded. That is why they are favourites.
Belgium do things the hard way and keep winning. Rudi Garcia’s side won Group G despite a slow start, drawing 1–1 with Egypt and 0–0 with Iran before thumping New Zealand 5–1. The Round of 32 was pure theatre: 2–0 down to Senegal, they roared back to win 3–2 in extra time, captain Youri Tielemans burying a penalty in the 125th minute. The Round of 16 against the USA was more comfortable, a 4–1 win with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice, Hans Vanaken adding a third and Romelu Lukaku rounding it off late. Lukaku leads their scoring on three, and this core of De Bruyne, Lukaku and keeper Thibaut Courtois know the clock is ticking on their golden generation.
The bookies make Spain firm favourites at around 4/7, with Belgium out towards 9/2 and the draw around 11/4. Spain’s control and those five clean sheets earn that price, but Belgium have already come from 2–0 down once and carry match-winners all over the pitch. It has been a while since these two met: their most recent clash was a 2016 friendly Spain won 2–0. At a World Cup they have met twice, most famously the 1986 quarter-final that finished 1–1 after extra time before Belgium won 5–4 on penalties.
The winner of Match 98 goes into the semi-finals (14–15 July). Level after 90 minutes and it is extra time, then penalties. Belgium already proved in the last 32 they can win a game deep into extra time, so do not assume ninety minutes settles this.
Predicted Line-Ups
Spain
De la Fuente has a balanced, ball-dominant side with Lamine Yamal the creative spark from the right and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line and the scoring charts on four. Merino has shown he can settle a tie off the bench. Spain keep the ball, squeeze the game and rarely give anything away, having not conceded once all tournament.
Yamal the 18-year-old star; Oyarzabal the man leading the scoring.
Ferran Torres carries one knockout yellow, so a booking would rule him out of the semi. Team news to firm up nearer kick-off.
Belgium
Rudi Garcia leans on experience, with captain Youri Tielemans pulling the strings, Kevin De Bruyne the creative brain and Romelu Lukaku the focal point up top. Charles De Ketelaere and Leandro Trossard offer goals from wide, and Thibaut Courtois remains a world-class last line. Expect Belgium to sit a touch deeper and hit Spain on the break.
Lukaku leads the line on three goals; De Bruyne the danger in behind.
No Belgium suspensions or major injuries flagged. Team news to firm up nearer kick-off.
Our Prediction
We are backing Spain. Five games, five clean sheets, and nobody left in the draw controls a match like they do. Belgium have quality and a proven comeback in them, but this ageing side has leaked chances all tournament and Yamal, Oyarzabal and company should find a way through. We fancy a composed 2–0. If you want cover for extra time and penalties, back “Spain to qualify” instead.
Spain vs Belgium Odds Comparison
Here are indicative 1X2 prices for the 90-minute result. Spain are firm favourites on form and those five clean sheets, but Belgium’s match-winners keep them in the picture. Prices move quickly before a knockout, so always check the live number before you stake.
| Bookmaker | Spain | Draw | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betway | 4/7 | 11/4 | 9/2 | Bet Now → |
| QuinnBet | 8/13 | 5/2 | 4/1 | Bet Now → |
| Parimatch | 4/7 | 11/4 | 9/2 | Bet Now → |
Odds shown are indicative and were correct at the time of writing. They will drift as team news lands and money comes in. Click through and check the live price in the bookmaker’s app before placing any bet. These are 90-minute (full-time result) prices and do not include extra time or penalties.
Best Bets — Spain vs Belgium
Spain to qualify
Belgium already dragged a tie to the 125th minute in the last 32, so back Spain “to qualify” and you are covered for extra time and a shootout too. The sensible way to lean on the favourites in a game that could go the distance.
Spain to win to nil
Five games, five clean sheets, zero goals conceded all tournament. If that defence holds again, Spain to win to nil pays a tidy price and fits our 2–0 call perfectly.
Lamine Yamal anytime or 1+ assist
The 18-year-old has one goal and a stack of chances created. Back him anytime scorer if you fancy him to finish one, or take the assist market given his creator’s role from the right.
Lukaku anytime
Belgium’s top scorer on three and their focal point up top. If Belgium are going to hurt this Spain side, Lukaku is the likeliest name on the scoresheet, so he is a fair each-way angle for the underdog.
Standard match-result and over/under markets settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time only. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the market specifically says “to qualify” or “to lift the trophy”. Belgium already came from 2–0 down to win in extra time this tournament, so keep that in mind.
Anytime Goalscorer Tips
Two very different attacks, but plenty of goals in both. Here are the verified scorers from the tournament so far:
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) — four goals, Spain’s top scorer, with a brace against Austria and the man leading the line. The shortest-priced Spain scorer and a reliable pick.
- Lamine Yamal (Spain) — one goal, against Saudi Arabia, but the tournament’s standout creator. More a threat in the assist market, though he will fancy adding to his tally.
- Mikel Merino (Spain) — the substitute who won the Round of 16 against Portugal in stoppage time. A live option from midfield, especially late on.
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) — three goals, Belgium’s top scorer, including a late fourth against the USA. The obvious pick if Belgium find joy up top.
- Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) — scored twice against the USA and looks Belgium’s man in form. A tempting price if he starts.
Anytime goalscorer settles on 90 minutes only. Oyarzabal and Lukaku are the two most likely names, and Lamine Yamal is worth a look in the assist market given his creator’s role. Always confirm the starting XI before backing a scorer.
Bet Builder Tips — Spain vs Belgium
Three same-game builders for the tie. Treat these as ideas rather than gospel. Every leg you add lengthens the odds and shortens your patience.
- The clean-sheet special: Spain to qualify + Spain to win to nil + Oyarzabal anytime scorer. A clean fit for a 2–0 Spain win with that defence holding firm.
- Spain control: Spain to win + under 2.5 goals + Lamine Yamal 1+ assist. Backs a tight, controlled Spain win and their teenage creator to tell.
- Belgium fight back: Lukaku anytime scorer + both teams to score + over 2.5 goals. For anyone who reckons Belgium turn this into another comeback.
Bet builder prices vary a fair bit between bookmakers, so shop around. A few of the welcome offers above (Betnero, 7Bet, Matchbook) are built specifically for accumulators and bet builders.
Grab a Free Bet for the Quarter-Finals
New customer? The 12 World Cup welcome offers above can hand you free bets to put on Spain vs Belgium and the rest of the quarter-finals. Compare them all on our offers hub before you stake.
See All World Cup Offers →18+ · New customers only · T&Cs apply · BeGambleAware.org
Spain at the 2026 World Cup — The Favourites’ Tag Fits
Spain came into this World Cup among the favourites and have done nothing to change that. Luis de la Fuente’s side, world champions back in 2010 and European champions in 2024, control games in a way nobody else left in the draw can match. They won Group H without conceding a goal, drawing 0–0 with Cape Verde, brushing Saudi Arabia aside 4–0 and grinding out a 1–0 win over Uruguay.
The knockouts have only sharpened them. A 3–0 win over Austria in the Round of 32, Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice, was followed by a battling 1–0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16, substitute Mikel Merino heading in deep into stoppage time. That took Spain to five games without conceding a single goal. Oyarzabal leads their scoring on four, but the headline act is Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old who has been the creative star of the whole tournament and the reason opposition defenders lose sleep.
Belgium are a serious test, a side with match-winners and a proven comeback in them, but if de la Fuente’s men keep their heads and their shape, they have the tools to control the game and the quality to win it. Get past Belgium and Spain will fancy their chances of going all the way. Track the wider picture through our Round of 16 hub, the outright winner odds where Spain sit among the favourites, the Golden Boot market and our page on Lamine Yamal.
Where to Watch Spain vs Belgium
Spain vs Belgium kicks off at 8:00pm BST on Friday 10 July 2026 (3:00pm ET) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, branded the Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament. Every World Cup 2026 match is live in the UK on either BBC or ITV, with free streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Check the latest TV listings closer to kick-off to see which channel has this one.
Level after 90 minutes and the game heads to 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if it is still all square. Belgium already won a tie deep into extra time this tournament, so do not switch off early. Coverage usually starts around half an hour before kick-off with build-up and team news.
Stats & Form
| Metric | Spain | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Group finish | Group H — 1st | Group G — 1st |
| Group results | D 0–0 Cape Verde · W 4–0 Saudi Arabia · W 1–0 Uruguay | D 1–1 Egypt · D 0–0 Iran · W 5–1 New Zealand |
| Round of 32 | W 3–0 Austria | W 3–2 Senegal (aet) |
| Round of 16 | W 1–0 Portugal | W 4–1 USA |
| Top scorer (tournament) | Mikel Oyarzabal (4) | Romelu Lukaku (3) |
| Manager | Luis de la Fuente | Rudi Garcia |
| Pedigree | 2010 World Cup & Euro 2024 winners | Golden generation — best World Cup 3rd (2018) |
Results, scorers and records verified against FIFA.com, ESPN, Sky Sports and Al Jazeera, correct to 7 July 2026. Spain have not conceded a single goal across five games. At a World Cup the sides have met twice: the 1986 quarter-final, 1–1 after extra time and Belgium won 5–4 on penalties, and the 1990 group stage, Spain 2–1. Their most recent meeting was a 2016 friendly, Spain 2–0.
More World Cup 2026 Guides
Spain vs Belgium FAQ
What time does Spain vs Belgium kick off and where is it played?
Kick-off is 8:00pm BST on Friday 10 July 2026 (3:00pm ET) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, branded the Los Angeles Stadium. It is Match 98 of the World Cup, a quarter-final knockout tie.
Who is favourite to win Spain vs Belgium?
Spain are favourites, priced around 4/7 for a 90-minute win at the time of writing, with Belgium around 9/2 and the draw about 11/4. Spain’s five clean sheets and control give them the edge, but Belgium carry match-winners. Odds are indicative, so confirm the live price before betting.
How did Spain and Belgium reach the quarter-finals?
Spain won Group H without conceding (0–0 v Cape Verde, 4–0 v Saudi Arabia, 1–0 v Uruguay), beat Austria 3–0 in the last 32, then beat Portugal 1–0 in the Round of 16 through a Mikel Merino stoppage-time strike. Belgium won Group G (1–1 v Egypt, 0–0 v Iran, 5–1 v New Zealand), came from 2–0 down to beat Senegal 3–2 after extra time, then beat the USA 4–1.
What happens if the match is a draw after 90 minutes?
This is a single-elimination knockout, so there must be a winner. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to 30 minutes of extra time. If it is still level, it is decided by a penalty shootout. Standard match-result bets settle on 90 minutes only.
When did Spain and Belgium last meet at a World Cup?
Their most famous World Cup meeting was the 1986 quarter-final, which finished 1–1 after extra time before Belgium won 5–4 on penalties. They also met in the 1990 group stage, Spain winning 2–1. Their most recent meeting of any kind was a 2016 friendly, Spain 2–0.
What is our prediction for Spain vs Belgium?
We are calling a 2–0 Spain win. Spain have not conceded all tournament and control games better than anyone left in the draw, and we expect Yamal and Oyarzabal to find a way through an ageing Belgium side. It is a knockout, so back “Spain to qualify” if you want cover for extra time and penalties. Bet responsibly and only what you can afford to lose.
